Three-dimensional antenna coupling to core plasma in fusion devices

A complete understanding of the RF physics from the launcher to the plasma core is required to fully analyze RF experiments and to evaluate the performance of RF antenna designs in ITER. This understanding requires a consistent model for the RF power launching system, propagation and absorption through the edge region, and the response of the core plasma to the RF power. As a first step toward such a model, the three-dimensional (3D) antenna modeling code, RANT3D, has been coupled with the reduced order full wave code, PICES. Preliminary results from this model are presented in this paper for parameters similar to those found in the DIII-D experiment